Loads of new evidence of Kremlin crimes filed with ICJ, - Minister Petrenko

Kyiv has referred new facts of the Kremlin's crimes against Ukraine to the United Nations International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko said on air of 5 Channel that hundreds of pages of text were handed over to the ICJ, but did not disclose their content, citing an expected interim verdict of judges on April 19, Censor.NET reports.

"These are hundreds of pages of explanations and additional evidence, and this is Ukraine's first case against Russia, the No.1 case. The seizure of Crimea, the "green men," the seizure of our facilities. The filed facts do not give a chance to the other side to lie and say that it was not a planned action, that there was an expression of will of the Crimean people. Be patient. There will be a very interesting and informative press conference where new, previously unknown evidence will be presented," the minister said.

On Jan. 16, 2017, Ukraine filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice to hold Russian Federation accountable for acts of terrorism and discrimination in the course of its illegal aggression against Ukraine. The lawsuit is based on the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The hearing took place from March 6 to 9 inclusively. Ukraine presented its position on March 6, Russia - on March 7. On March 8-9, both sides presented their objections to each other's positions.

Earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stated: "Ukraine will be presenting evidence of Russia's crimes at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The truth is stronger than weapons!" One day into the hearing, Poroshenko noted: "We expect rulings that will cut the supply of weapons to the occupied territory and stop reprisals the ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars are facing."

According to Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraine's main goal in The Hague is to protect the life and rights of the Ukrainians. Ukraine had held some 40 meetings with the Russian Federation before filing a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice.

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